Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XIX

2 2 0 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I and heritage. This is clear not only in the shoes they create but also their other projects such as clothes and accessories. The menswear clothing collection features a selection of real foundational pieces of the industry, well-designed cornerstones of the male wardrobe created in muted, natural tones and exquisite, classic materials. A central focus this season is the classic parka, a coat which has been redesigned with a distinctive aviator spirit in mind. It is unmistakably sporty and utilitarian, but there is also a strangely formal aspect to it; with waxed leather and a grisaille texture which reminds the viewer of traditional Italian tailoring fabrics, the TOD’s parka is likely to become a classic of the future. In terms of accessories, especially bags, the brand has also made a push to trigger an evolution that matches the rest of the collection. Introduced was the new Cloud style, a cross-functional and oversized piece made from skilfully fashioned ultra-lightweight leather sans heavy, bonded elements. It comes in four styles – messenger, gym, shopper and backpack – to make sure it suits a variety of uses encountered in the lifestyle of the modern man. The high standard of quality that each TOD’s product must meet is guaranteed by the strong craftsmanship involved in each phase of the production. Every product is handmade and crafted with techniques of the highest skilled handcraftsmanship. All products are crafted in the group’s owned factories, with a total of six for their shoe lines and two for their leather goods, as well as in a limited number of specialised laboratories. The buying of materials, the supervision of all the production phases and the control of the finished products are centralised at the headquarters, to ensure quality across the board. Today, TOD’s is owned by the TOD’s SpA group, which also manages the Hogan footwear brand as well as the casual wear company FAY. It may be a far cry from the company’s origins as a family run factory in the early 1900s, but it is a move that has allowed the company to continue producing high quality, luxury footwear and evolving with each passing season.